Advent and Syria

If you’ve been following recent news you will know that Syria has been liberated from the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, who ruled Syria in a most violent, bloody, and oppressive way for the last 24 years.

Prisons have been opened and refugees are starting to pour back.

Here are some lines from today’s New York Times:

“The rebels who swept across Syria and claimed to have taken the capital, Damascus, appear to have also captured the prison complex of Sednaya, where human rights groups say Mr. al-Assad kept large numbers of political prisoners, according to reports and videos circulating on social media on Sunday…

As the news that the Syrian government was on the verge of collapse began to trickle in, Walaa Salameh, a resident of Damascus, felt so ecstatic that she stayed awake all night. Her family celebrated as it became clear the Assad family’s more than 50-year reign was over.

‘Our hearts are dancing with joy,’ Ms. Salameh, 35, said in a phone interview. ‘We can’t predict the future and anything is possible, but the most important thing is we got rid of this oppressive regime.’…

A few miles from Lebanon’s main border crossing with Syria, the road is packed with traffic as Syrians who fled during the country’s civil war make their way home. People are cheering, honking their car horns and blasting songs written during the Syrian uprising to celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad — their lyrics no longer a fantasy but a reality. Others are hanging out of car windows, waving the flag of the Syrian opposition and holding their fingers up in a ‘V’ shape for victory…

Ahmed al-Misilmani, a journalist in northwest Syria, said he ran onto his balcony yelling for joy when he saw reports that President Bashar al-Assad was fleeing the country. His yelling woke his wife and his children…”

You can read the whole article here.

As you read this news, imagine the joy of those who are now free from prison, the loved ones who have missed them, and the refugees who can now return to their homes.

This is what Israel in the time that we call “Advent” was longing for. Israel had been occupied not for 24 years but for centuries. Oppression, imprisonment, and death were part of everyday life. Every Israelite longed for freedom from the oppressor, and shalom would reign.

It is that kind of longing and hope that inspired the words of Mary, Zechariah, and the angel:

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:52–53, NIV84)

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—” (Luke 1:68–71, NIV84)

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14, KJV 1900)

And when the faithful heard that the Anointed One had come, there was joy:

“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44, NIV84)

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10, NIV84)

Perhaps as we watch and hear the news about Syria, we can move away from the sentimentality of this season as we tend to celebrate it - the shallow excitement of waiting for a Christmas gift. As we observe the liberation and celebrations of the Syrians, let us wait in this Advent season with the same kind of longing for liberation for all God's people, creatures, and creation.

(Note: it is unclear what will happen in Syria now. It is by no means guaranteed that Shalom will overcome violence. We pray that it will.)